A profile of BJP leader Harsh Vardhan

Harsh Vardhan, (58), a senior Delhi BJP leader, is an ENT surgeon by profession, and has been the former president of state unit of the BJP.

He entered the political scene in 1993 when Delhi voted for its first legislative assembly. He was elected from Krishna Nagar constituency in east Delhi and went on to retain that seat in the 1998, 2003 and 2008 assembly elections.

He was the health minister of Delhi between 1993-98 when he pioneered the Pulse Polio programme.

Vijay Goel (59), was a three-time MP and was a minister in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) regime.

Currently heading the Delhi BJP, he began his political journey as the president of the Delhi University Students Union in 1977-78.

In 2003, he was in charge of the youth affairs ministry, and has also served as the minister of statistics and program implementation, and MOS PMO.